Board Member
Erich Pearson is a recognized leader in the cannabis industry – a long-time advocate, legislative consultant, dispensary operator, cultivation expert, a founding member of the National Cannabis Industry Association, and the founder of SPARC, a vertically integrated cannabis farming, manufacturing, and retail company.
A proponent of medical cannabis regulation, cultivation, and best practices since 2000, Erich has served on a variety of San Francisco’s cannabis working groups, the District Attorney’s Medical Marijuana Advisory Group, Board of Supervisor’s Lowest Priority Working Group, Medical Cannabis Working Group, and Legalization Task Force.
In 2010 Erich launched SPARC, a nonprofit medical cannabis dispensary providing safe, consistent and affordable medical cannabis to patients in San Francisco. SPARC now provides high quality, lab-tested cannabis to qualified patients and adults, and collaborates with local hospices, residential care facilities, and dispensaries to successfully supply medical marijuana at no cost to seriously ill patients. SPARC currently owns and operates 5 retail dispensaries in the Bay Area, an organic farm in Sonoma Valley, and a manufacturing facility in Santa Rosa, California.
Erich continues to drive SPARC in a direction that differentiates the SPARC brand while advocating for policies that normalize the use and distribution of cannabis. Lately, Erich has been working closely with policy makers in Sonoma County to draft and implement laws that allow for the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of cannabis. Erich is working closely with the community and government of Sonoma Valley to permit SPARC’s Biodynamic farm to allow for public access and sales no different than the multitude of wineries that drive tourism to Sonoma.
Erich holds a BS in Construction and Project Management from Purdue University.